Black People Magic: Honoring the Commissioner, the Iceman Jerry Butler

We pay tribute to Chicago's legendary soul singer, songwriter and public servant Jerry Butler, who passed away this week on Thursday at the age of 85, after a battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Butler was born in Sunflower, Mississippi in 1939. His family moved to Chicago when he was 3 years old. He first discovered music in church and later defined “The Chicago Sound” of pure soul music that dominated radio airwaves. He was dubbed the “Iceman” by Philadelphia disc jockey Georgie Wood. 

Butler was the original lead singer of the Impressions with Curtis Mayfield before going solo. He first hit the charts in 1958 with The Impressions with the ballad, “For Your Precious Love.” He had many hits in the 1970s and 1980s that included “He Will Break Your Heart,” “Moon River,” “Only the Strong Survive,” and “Never Gonna Give You Up.”

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Impressions in 1991, who said, “Their music was the sound of the Civil Rights Movement.” 

Jerry said his biggest money maker was “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” which he composed with Otis Redding. It’s been covered by many artists including Aretha Franklin, Joe Cocker, Etta James, the Rolling Stones and Tina Turner.

During the 1980s, Butler also supported the historic mayoral campaign of Harold Washington, and in 1985, he was elected to public office as a Cook County commissioner and served from 1986 until he retired in 2018. He also served as the chairman of the Board for the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, a non-profit organization.

Former Warner Brothers Records promotional manager and friend Kirkland Burke told me that his brother Sonny was the organist in Jerry’s band in the early 1970’s, and said he was “one of the nicest people in the business.” Yes indeed, he was.

& Remember to always celebrate your magic! xo


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